It promotes 'agro-ecological' practices, such as the use of natural fertilisers and traditional seeds and reducing the distance between the farm and the consumer.

Professor Robert Watson, director of the report's secretariat, says while calling for changes to agricultural practices is an "old message", it "has not always had resonance in some parts of the world".

"If those with power are now willing to hear it, then we may hope for more equitable policies that do take the interests of the poor into account," he says.

Environmental impacts

The IAASTD also calls for a careful study of the environmental impacts on genetically modified crops and biofuels without taking a clear overall stance on either issue.

Some 60 governments, including Brazil, China, France and India, have approved the report.

But the US, Australia and Canada have not endorsed the entire report and the UK has not yet officially responded.

"The US objection [to the report] was primarily around the trade issue ...They also felt we were not as positive as they would have liked on some of the new forms of biotechnology and transgenics. They have a less nuanced perspective than us," Watson says.

The report aims to set the agenda for hunger and poverty reduction in the next 50 years when demand for food is expected to rise sharply.

Food prices have already started to climb, which Watson says has been driven by increased demand, unfavourable weather, export restrictions, commodity market speculators, increased land use for biofuels, particularly in the US, and rising energy costs.

He says the report highlights the "huge problem" we have in finding ways to produce sufficient food for a rapidly growing population and halting the damage and increasing pressure on our natural resources, soils, water and biodiversity.

"We've got to look at whole ecological, energy and water systems to appreciate the impacts or the footprint of our food on our natural resource base," he says.

"With the urgency of food production problems we can't afford to be so picky about some of these issues. Why should developing country farmers be denied the opportunities of modern science in biotechnology, fertilisers and so on?"

While the report does not say poor countries should be denied access to such technologies, it recommends assessing their risks and benefits.

Craswell welcomes, however, how the report draws together the ideas of scientists and non-government organisations, especially in relation to the link between agriculture and the environment.